Netanyahu accusing Iran 'extremely shameful', Israeli media say
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The Israeli media has responded critically to Israeli occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation of Iran's involvement in Al-Khalil operation.
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Israeli occupation forces are seen at the scene of a shooting operation near the occupied West Bank city of al-Quds, on August 21, 2023. (AP)
Israeli media sources stated on Monday that the assertion made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging Iran had a role in the shooting incident in Al-Khalil, was widely condemned as "extremely shameful."
Rafif Darwark, a political commentator featured on "Israel's" Channel 13, noted, "Over the years, we would often ridicule Arab nations by observing that whenever something negative occurred, they promptly pointed fingers at Israel."
Darwark emphasized the uncertainty surrounding whether Netanyahu's allegations constitute an effort "to initiate a campaign against Iran concerning the ongoing discussions regarding the Iranian nuclear deal."
He also expressed uncertainty about the extent to which the statements of Israeli occupation Security Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would capture international attention in the aftermath of this incident.
The Israeli commentator pointed out that there might be an attempt by the "right-wing" to deflect blame in the current situation.
"There is no Ehud Barak, Aharon Barak, or the Supreme Court," he stated. He added that since these dynamics are occurring under a "full right-wing government", they are trying to attribute the blame to Iran.
Darwark deemed this approach "very disgraceful" and continued, "We have seen some of these incidents captured on cameras; they are spontaneous. Someone sees Israelis, so they throw something or take a gun and act. But suggesting that Iran is behind this (with astonishment), that's a problem."
On the other hand, Tzvi Yehezkel, an expert on Arab affairs at Channel 13, suggested that "perhaps Iran is assisting in the weapons aspect, but Iran is the last factor in the equation."
He emphasized that there's a fundamental issue at play, "involving warfare, uprisings." He noted that Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Fatah are resorting to "violence against Israel", making it challenging to ascertain accountability.
Yehezkel provided further insight, suggesting that there is a larger context in motion that hasn't been entirely comprehended within "Israel". He cautioned against seeking out individuals to blame and emphasized the presence of an ongoing scenario, with certain individuals recognizing and responding to it. Currently, "Israel" has not offered a comprehensive reaction to this scenario, and Iran does not hold a prominent role within this particular context, he concluded.
Labeling Iran as the perpetrator is "an incredibly convenient answer"
In this particular setting, the military analyst on Channel 13, Alon Ben David, highlighted that "attributing this operation to Iran is a simplistic approach. Iran cannot be held accountable for the intricate situation in the West Bank, where a significant number of Israelis reside within the Palestinian community."
He evaluated that Galant's statement implies that the security apparatus is aiming to impose consequences, not exclusively targeting Iran, but rather focusing on those involved in the arms supply chain, primarily Hamas and Hezbollah.
Read more: Al-Khalil operation a cause of fear, panic in 'Israel': Israeli media
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One occupation settler was killed and another was critically injured after their car was targeted in a shooting operation in Al-Khalil on Monday, Israeli media reported.
The operation took place in an area under heavy security surveillance, the news outlets added.
Israeli occupation soldiers launched a mass manhunt looking for the individual(s) that carried out the operation after enforcing full closure on the city and its entrances, Israeli media said, adding that helicopters were deployed to the scene to participate in the combing efforts.
The new operation dealt yet another mighty blow to the Israeli occupation, as described by Channel 13, linking this operation to the previous shooting near Huwara on Saturday, which led to the death of two settlers.
Resistance operations intensified in recent months following an increase in Israeli deadly aggressions against Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank, most notably the IOF mass-military aggression on Jenin in early July.
